Bomb disposals, firing displays and music with a swing expected at wartime weekend in Sheffield

Now in its 7th year, the nostalgic event will host a wide range of wartime demonstrations by re-enactment groups at Kelham Island Museum on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24.

Members of the UK Homefront group will greet visitors with home guard displays, a rest centre for bombed out civilians and make do and mend demonstrations.

There will also be weaponry and firing displays by the Allied 39-45 Group and a bomb disposal display by Homefires Burning.

Niki Connolly, events and marketing manager at Sheffield Industrial Museum’s Trust, said: “Our annual wartime event is a firm favourite on the museum calendar. The event has a strong following of over 2000 people and we love to see our visitors dressed in their 1940s best, it’s such a sunny atmosphere they really help bring the era to life transforming the museum into almost a wartime film set.”

Visitors can also expect to see a collection of vintage vehicles including a 1937 Yorkshire traction single decker bus, a 1945 Diamond T Tank Transporter, a wartime fire engine, motorcycles, jeeps and classic cars.

Headlining the music stage will be the George Formby Experience and Pete Jones who will entertain with wartime classics joined by vintage vocalist Natasha Harper.

Big band sounds will be provided by the Langsett Dance Orchestra on Saturday afternoon and Susan St Nicholas will entertain with a Vera Lynn tribute.

In the tradition of moral boosting dance halls of the time, the Sunday afternoon tea dance is sure to go with a swing between 2pm and 4pm with music provided by G.I. Jive.

Bargain hunters are also in for a treat as the vintage fair offers 20 antique and craft stalls selling an array of wares from clothing and collectables to pie and peas, preserves and cakes.

Stop for a bite to eat in The Little Mesters Café, which will have a wartime menu, hog roast and fish and chips - which was one of the few foods not to be rationed during the Second World War.

The museum itself will be showcasing its current Heritage Lottery Funded project ‘Sheffield 1916: Steel, Steam and Steam’ inspired by the mighty 12,000hp River Don Engine, the most powerful working steam engine in Europe, which can be seen in steam at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm each day.

The event runs from 11am to 5pm both days. It costs £6 for adults and children aged under 16 go free. An additional £2 admission charge applies for the Sunday afternoon tea dance and includes tea and cake. For more information visit www.simt.co.uk